Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A colleague asked me today how my trip went, and after I told them how great it was to see friends and family and visit home, I also mentioned that I ate my way across the US. After a bit of explaining, he got it, but it wasn't until I checked out my photos tonight that I realized that might have been an understatement.

I think I literally gorged myself across the US... but boy it felt good.

So without further ado... here are 12 reasons you will hate me tomorrow - or a list of those must eat American food items that you should devour should you find yourself on a short stint home, away from Switzerland, back on red, white and blue soil:

1. Steak and Shake burger... and vanilla milk shake. This is my kind of place. There is only one size for the milkshake - HUGE. And I ate it all. And that steak burger still makes my mouth water along with the shoe string fries. Be still my heart...

2. Real sushi... seriously good, seriously fresh, seriously CHEAP sushi. And if it comes to you on a conveyor belt, brownie points for you!

3. Barbecue.... or BBQ... or an entire sampler. I seriously could have eaten this alone. This is from Famous Dave's and on Tuesday's the plate for 2 is just $19.99... Lordy.

4. Pancakes - a stack of them at least a meter high, with chocolate chips. Only in America. I know. I have tried to order this elsewhere.

5. Meat and three and ICED TEA - this is a Southern thing but I am going to adopt it as a personal tradition... hell we already do, Jace calls it Meat and Two Veg, but I like it when there are 3 veggies, especially if one is creamed corn. Don't forget those cornbread muffins either. Just to give you a virtual heart attack - the fried chicken here was delectable and the mac and cheese was smooth and creamy... free refill on all of it please!

6. Southern salad - there is a place called Puffy Muffin in Brentwood, TN and I can't pull myself away from it sometimes... can you say tuna salad, chicken salad, pimento salad, almond poppyseed bread, frozen strawberry salad and and endless glass of ginger iced tea? I can. I said it TWICE. ;)

I love that in the south (or any BBQ joint) when you go for three veggie choices the odds are pretty good that most of the options will not really be a veggie (i.e. mac & cheese) and maybe one of them will be green. Glad that you had a good time eating your way across the US. It is so funny how food is such a comfort thing. I am already planning what I am eating on my next trip back in a few weeks.